What does priority boarding mean?

[Boscodog]

We are going on our second Norwegian cruise on 8/30 so we are now a Latitudes member. The check in info says we have priority boarding. What exactly does that mean? Last year when we went on the Breakaway we stood in ridiculously long lines for almost 2 hours until we boarded. It was a chaotic scene. Any insight will be helpful.

[MeHeartCruising]

We are going on our second Norwegian cruise on 8/30 so we are now a Latitudes member. The check in info says we have priority boarding. What exactly does that mean? Last year when we went on the Breakaway we stood in ridiculously long lines for almost 2 hours until we boarded. It was a chaotic scene. Any insight will be helpful.

 

When you enter the boarding area, look for signs that lead you to a line for Latitudes members. It may or may not be shorter than the regular line. There are a lot of Latitudes members out there. There is no real advantage in most cases unless you are in a suite.

[SeaShark]

We are going on our second Norwegian cruise on 8/30 so we are now a Latitudes member. The check in info says we have priority boarding. What exactly does that mean? Last year when we went on the Breakaway we stood in ridiculously long lines for almost 2 hours until we boarded. It was a chaotic scene. Any insight will be helpful.

If you check the Latitude Benefits you will see that they offer "Priority Check-In" NOT priority boarding.

[trackstarsmom]

I would never begin to judge anyone cruising in a suite. I only cruise in suites !!!. I choose to forgo…..going out to dinner….going shopping at the mall… going on other vacations… and driving a 10 year old car…So 1 week out of the year I am treated like a queen. Do not think I am better than anyone else. Not at all !! Just getting exactly what I didn't indulge in all year. LUXURY!!!!

[Chuck2810]

I would never begin to judge anyone cruising in a suite. I only cruise in suites !!!. I choose to forgo…..going out to dinner….going shopping at the mall… going on other vacations… and driving a 10 year old car…So 1 week out of the year I am treated like a queen. Do not think I am better than anyone else. Not at all !! Just getting exactly what I didn't indulge in all year. LUXURY!!!!

 

Right on... I get really angry when I hear that I am worth nothing more, even though I bust my hump. If I wanted to sail in inside only, I could criuse twice a year. I don't. I save.

[NayRN]

Right on... I get really angry when I hear that I am worth nothing more, even though I bust my hump. If I wanted to sail in inside only, I could criuse twice a year. I don't. I save.

 

BINGO! I cruise once a year....and that's after working countless extra shifts at the hospital and University! I feel it's my time to spoil myself! Irritates me when I read posts about the "class system"!! Heck, for the price of a suite, I could sail twice a year in a balcony!! :cool:

[numberguy]

Um, I didn't read anyone judging people in suites. They were just saying that there is more of a boarding time advantage for suite passengers than for being a Latitudes member.

[Max Circus]

All Lattituds meets get Priority Check-in which is just a dedicated line. You may find that Platinum has it's own line. The special lines aren't always shorter so use your best judgment when you get there. I remember a sailing on RCCL where a woman jumped ahead of us because she aaid she was "Emerald". We were then guided to the regular line by the embarkation staff and got checked in first. Boy was she "green" with envy. And steaming mad also.

 

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[Chuck2810]

Best experience was in New Orleans last year. We were a party of 4 and it really helped being in the VIP line - the terminal was packed, and the door greater immediately got on the radio. We went straight to the counter and got checked in. The 'escort on-board' didn't help much though. Other than not letting us get lost, we were still at the end of the gangway in a slow line. And then the 'card scan' failed for the family in front and we had to wait 10 min while they got a new card.

 

But the point is to keep stress low - and it did, and it also got my girls to see why success matters.

[KweezyCruiser]

Um, I didn't read anyone judging people in suites. They were just saying that there is more of a boarding time advantage for suite passengers than for being a Latitudes member.

 

There was a lot of insanity last night. Those posts, which provided the context for this discussion, have been removed.

[numberguy]

There was a lot of insanity last night. Those posts, which provided the context for this discussion, have been removed.

Ok thanks. Sorry to bring it back up.

[tomk3212]

Latitudes Platinum or Gold get shunted aside into a special area with the suite people thereby avoiding the long regular or long Latitudes lines because, yes, there are now a LOT of Latitudes members...lol.

 

I believe they mean by "priority boarding" you can now choose a boarding time when you purchase your ticket if you are Latitudes Bronze or Silver. If you get a 1000-1030 boarding time you get to check in quicker but you'll still have to wait to get on board if it's before 1200. Gold and Platinum members can arrive whenever they want and get handled like I said before.

 

The first time we sailed on the Breakaway we were also surprised at the long lines but keep in mind the Breakaway & Getaway can handle over 4000 pax vs. the Gem or Jewel that have 3000 pax max. In NYC they have to devote an entire pier to boarding the Breakaway whereas the Gem or Dawn or Spirit only require 1/2 a pier.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Tom

[tarps14]

Latitudes Platinum or Gold get shunted aside into a special area with the suite people thereby avoiding the long regular or long Latitudes lines because, yes, there are now a LOT of Latitudes members.....

 

Are you sure about this? We cruised last on NCL in January so maybe it's changed, but, I don't remember reading this about the Latitudes members at Platinum and Gold. I know there is a dedicated Latitudes line but maybe someone else can comment here on being directed to the suite check-in.

[mizLORInj]

Are you sure about this? We cruised last on NCL in January so maybe it's changed, but, I don't remember reading this about the Latitudes members at Platinum and Gold. I know there is a dedicated Latitudes line but maybe someone else can comment here on being directed to the suite check-in.

 

In NYC for the GEM, yes, the plat/gold/suites/VIP get sent to a check-in area immediately on the right after Security.

 

I forget how it's handled for Breakaway, but it's different because the port has more Haven signs for that check-in. Not even sure that Gold or Platinum is listed anywhere past Security (or even before) so I hope someone else can answer that.

 

In answer to the OP's question, the only time priority check-in becomes a "real" benefit is when you hit gold or cruise in a suite (or are VIP or CAS). It's been amusing to me that NCL lists priority check-in as a benefit for bronze and silver. Always check the non-Latitudes line; it is sometimes shorter than NCL's Latitudes "priority" check-in line.

Edited August 2, 2015 by mizlorinj

[numberguy]

In NYC for the GEM, yes, the plat/gold/suites/VIP get sent to a check-in area immediately on the right after Security.

 

I forget how it's handled for Breakaway, but it's different because the port has more Haven signs for that check-in. Not even sure that Gold or Platinum is listed anywhere past Security (or even before) so I hope someone else can answer that.

 

In answer to the OP's question, the only time priority check-in becomes a "real" benefit is when you hit gold or cruise in a suite (or are VIP or CAS). It's been amusing to me that NCL lists priority check-in as a benefit for bronze and silver. Always check the non-Latitudes line; it is sometimes shorter than NCL's Latitudes "priority" check-in line.

My upcoming cruise will be my first and only as gold; I'll be platinum after it. It will be fun to see how things change since I'm gold.

 

--Michael

[Love my butler]

We are going on our second Norwegian cruise on 8/30 so we are now a Latitudes member. The check in info says we have priority boarding. What exactly does that mean? Last year when we went on the Breakaway we stood in ridiculously long lines for almost 2 hours until we boarded. It was a chaotic scene. Any insight will be helpful.

 

Priority check-in is NOT priority boarding. Far from it. You might be able to check-in a bit faster due to a short line, but then you will waiting to board the ship just like all the other non-vip passengers. You will still be standing in those two hour lines until you achieve VIP status and get priority boarding.